IHS Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the IHS exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 IHS Exam Format at a Glance
📚 IHS Topics to Study (15)
✍️ Sample IHS Questions & Answers
1. What should the audiology assistant check while performing a listening check?
During a listening check, the audiology assistant should check the cords and connections of the hearing aid. This involves inspecting the physical connections between the hearing aid components, such as the microphone, receiver, and battery compartment, to ensure that they are properly connected and functioning correctly. Any loose or faulty connections could affect the performance of the hearing aid, leading to issues with sound quality or amplification. Checking the cords and connections is an essential step in verifying that the hearing aid is operating as intended before fitting it to the patient.
2. What is the key distinction between sound pressure level (SPL) and hearing level (HL)?
SPL is referenced to a fixed pressure of 20 µPa across all frequencies, while HL adjusts for the ear's varying sensitivity so that 0 dB HL represents the average normal hearing threshold at each test frequency.
3. Which factor will affect a patient's/client's acceptance and use of hearing instruments?
The factor that will affect a patient's/client's acceptance and use of hearing instruments includes their cosmetic preferences. Patients or clients may have specific preferences regarding the appearance of the hearing instrument, such as its size, color, or visibility when worn. These preferences can significantly influence whether they are willing to accept and regularly use the hearing device. Therefore, addressing cosmetic concerns and offering options that align with the patient's preferences can enhance their acceptance and adherence to using the hearing instrument.
4. Which noise is best for masking during pure tone air and bone conduction testing?
During pure tone air and bone conduction testing, narrow band noise is often considered the most effective for masking. Narrow band noise is a type of noise that has a relatively narrow bandwidth, centered around a specific frequency. This noise type is used in masking to effectively cover up or mask the test ear during audiometric testing, particularly when testing air and bone conduction thresholds. It is selected to match the frequency being tested, ensuring that the sounds presented to the non-test ear do not interfere with the thresholds being measured in the test ear.
5. The primary function of the ossicular chain in the middle ear is to:
The ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) act as a lever system to amplify the force of sound vibrations from the larger tympanic membrane to the smaller oval window of the cochlea. This amplification overcomes the impedance mismatch between the air-filled middle ear and the fluid-filled inner ear.
6. What is the occlusion effect in hearing aid acoustics?
The occlusion effect occurs when an earmold or hearing aid shell occludes the ear canal, trapping and amplifying low-frequency bone-conducted sounds—particularly the wearer's own voice—creating a hollow or 'barrel' voice quality.